An Alexandria man, Charles Hampton Jr., changed his mind after two witnesses testified Wednesday in his attempted second-degree murder trial. Hampton was facing that charge and possession of a firearm by a felon in connection with a September 2016 incident at a Masonic Drive convenience store during which a woman was pistol whipped. Instead, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of aggravated battery and firearm possession by a felon, both felonies. Hampton received 10 years at hard labor for the battery charge and 20 years at hard labor for the firearm possession charge. The sentences will be served concurrently.

There’s several ways cigarettes can mess up your life, one of them is getting caught stealing them. 23-year-old Andrew Corley of Pineville has been arrested and charged with breaking into Pit Stop Convenience store on Edgewood Dr. by throwing s large stone through the stores window after hours and making off with cigarettes. A surveillance video led Pineville PD to Corley’s home.

50 year old Steven Gardner of Pineville has been arrested in connection with a criminal sexual conduct case. Gardner was arrested by RPSO deputies Tuesday and charged with sexual battery and three counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile. Gardner is a registered sex offender.

A broad area of low pressure is located over the central Gulf of Mexico. Although the shower activity is still disorganized, upper-level winds are forecast to become more conducive for development, and it is likely that a tropical depression will form today or tonight, before the system reaches the western Gulf coast. The Hurricane Center says heavy rainfall and gusty winds are expected across portions of northeastern Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana late this week.

As Hurricane Florence barrels toward the East Coast with the potential to cause catastrophic damage, the Baton Rouge branch of the Cajun Navy sent an estimated 100 volunteers to South Carolina equipped with boats and emergency supplies. United Cajun Navy volunteers are planning to set up shop in Columbia, South Carolina.

We’re fat and getting fatter.. A new report says Louisiana has the sixth highest adult obesity rate in the nation as 36-percent of the adult population is obese, up 23-percent in 2000 and 12-percent in 1990. Louisiana is ranked eighth in obesity for the age group between 10 and 17.

A LaFourche Parish Council member was arrested after violating a protective order filed against him by another councilman for the second time in four months. 51-year-old James Bourgeois Sr. had been ordered to stay clear of Jerry LaFont after a fist fight broke out at a council meeting back in April. Lafourche Parish Sheriffs Spokesperson Brennan Matherne says its politics.

Louisiana receives a seven- million dollar grant to build a new veterans cemetery in Jennings that’s set to break ground November 1st. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Joey Strickland says currently, southwest Louisiana families have to drive at least 80 miles to the nearest veterans cemetery.

About 35,000 people, so far, have signed a petition asking LSU to release Mike the Tiger and permanently stop having a live tiger mascot. Care2, a California-based social media operation with 40 million members, is sponsoring the effort that began two weeks ago.

Standing in Kenner’s Veterans Park, city Mayor Ben Zahn rescinded his controversial anti-Nike policy Wednesday, four days after it erupted on social media and thrust Kenner into a national spotlight. Zahn said it was his passion for the United States and for veterans that led him to issue the policy, which forbade all booster clubs connected to the city’s parks and playgrounds from purchasing any Nike products. He acted after the company launched an ad campaign featuring former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who began the practice of many NFL players kneeling during the national anthem before games to protest police brutality and social injustice.

Amazon is set to start shipping seven foot tall Christmas trees come November, in a bid to take over yet another market. A North Carolina Frasier will run customers about 115 bucks, a hefty markup, and will be shipped to your house within ten days of being cut down, but Allen parish Christmas Tree seller Gray Anderson says that takes the fun out of getting a real tree. Anderson says instead of sending your money to Seattle based Amazon, spend it in your own community.

The Governor’s Task Force on DWI recently met to discuss a number of ways to eliminate impaired driving throughout the state. It was the first such meeting since the task force was reinstated by Gov. John Bel Edwards through an executive order in February. Lisa Freeman, Director of Louisiana Highway Safety, says they are tackling drivers on the road while under the influence of drugs. Freeman adds that an important tool to combat the dangers of drug influence is education, not only of drives, buy law enforcement.

Eleven law enforcement officers from various parishes are taking part in a new sniper school hosted by the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office. The forty hour course is for designated marksmen involved in situations involving active shooters, hostages and barricades. They will also receive training in shooting moving targets, sniper deployment, maintaining data books, and range estimation.

A former longtime heavy equipment operator for a Gonzales-based company claims a noose was placed around his neck in a mocking manner twice in 2015 and 2016 so his supervisor could take pictures and share them with co-workers. In a new federal lawsuit, Horlis Clark Jr., who is black, says the noose incidents were meant to evoke a lynching and were part of what the suit described as continuing racial harassment and discriminatory behavior at Auger Services Inc.

Direct flights to Austin and Orlando begin Thursday from Baton Rouge’s Metro airport through airliner Via Air, in a first for the regional location. Baton Rouge Metro Airport Spokesperson Jim Caldwell says Via Air has a great reputation, and offers competitive pricing. Orlando flights are on Mondays and Thursdays, and Austin flights are on Monday, Thursday, and Friday.

Sports..

12th ranked LSU is listed as a 10.5 point underdog in their Top 25 matchup Saturday against the 7th ranked Auburn Tigers. LSU is looking for its first win at Auburn since 2012.

Saints Coach Sean Payton said Wednesday that wide receiver Cameron Meredith was inactive for the season opener because he still needs more reps in practice. New Orleans signed the free agent pass catcher after he missed the 2017 season with an ACL. Payton says Meredith is healthy and they are just trying to get him up to speed.

The Baltimore Ravens have put former Louisiana Tech running back Kenneth Dixon on injured reserve. Dixon scored a touchdown in Baltimore’s season opening win over the Bills, but also hurt his knee. The Ravens can bring Dixon back after Week 8 of the regular season.

Baseball America ranks this year’s recruiting class at LSU as the best in the nation. It’s the fourth time the Tigers have received the number one designation since 2007. The 16-member class contains seven players that have been chosen in the Major League Baseball draft. Vanderbilt finished second in the ranking, Florida fifth and Texas A-and-M is seventh.

ULM will take its 2-0 record to College Station on Saturday to take on Texas A&M. The Aggies nearly upset second ranked Clemson last weekend and Warhawks Coach Matt Viator is impressed with what Coach Jimbo Fisher has done during his first season in Aggie land. The Warhawks are coming off a big road win at Southern Miss.